Fans at Boston's FleetCenter hold a sign reflecting the impending trade of captain Ray Bourque during the Bruins' loss to Ottawa.

But in hockey terms, Bourque said the trade to Colorado might be just what he needed.

"I haven't been satisfied by how I've been playing this year and I think a challenge like a Stanley Cup run will bring the best out of me. I sure hope it does," he said.

Like Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito before him, Bourque established himself as one of hockey's greats while with the Bruins, but will finish his career elsewhere.

The Bruins drafted Bourque eighth overall in 1979. He quickly took his place in the tradition established by Eddie Shore and Orr of standout Boston defensemen.

		Monday, March 6 Getting Ray Bourque is quite a coup for Colorado. The Avalanche needed Bourque before Alexei Gusarov got injured; after the injury, the Avs desperately needed him. There was talk in Denver about deals for the future, but obviously they feel they can make a run at the Cup this year. This deal will get the attention of every team in the Western Conference. Teams are trying to load up, and the Avs have done that. Regardless of his age, Bourque can play with anyone, anywhere, any time. Bourque, Adam Foote and Sandis Ozolinsh will form quite a trio on the blue line. Bourque can be paired with Foote as a 1-2 defensive punch at the end of periods and in crucial situations. The Avs will be much more dynamic on the power play, with Bourque, the ultimate quarterback, and Ozolinsh, an instinctive, unorthodox player. Bourque is still such a commanding presence, a combination player who will take the pressure off the other defensemen. Dave Andreychuk is not a small throw-in in the deal. He's a 500-goal scorer who gives Colorado good size up front and can contribute on any line. He's great on the power play because he is tough to move in front of the net, much like Adam Deadmarsh. As for the Bruins, they got a good deal considering the age of Bourque and Andreychuk. Rolston, despite having a head-spinning year that began in New Jersey, is a solid player with good speed and goal-scoring skills. He just needs to produce. I've heard Sami Pahlsson is a pretty decent prospect. The Avs were high on him. I was watching the Ottawa-Boston game Monday night, and it left a lump in your throat because Bourque wasn't on the ice with the Bruins. There will be a lot of sentiment with Colorado now because of Bourque. His image is pristine, and he deserves everything he can get. He's the most complete player of his time. As an ex-defenseman, I'm a little prejudiced, but that's how good I think he is.

But in both of his appearances in the Stanley Cup finals -- in 1988 and 1990 -- the Bruins lost to the Edmonton Oilers. Three years ago, Bourque missed the playoffs for the first time, and he was asked if he might be interested in going elsewhere.

"I think I will probably end up playing here," he said in 1997. "... If it ends without me winning a cup, so be it. It doesn't mean I haven't accomplished much and I haven't had a great career.

"But winning a Cup would be the ultimate. ... For us, right now, it may not look all that rosy. But I am hopeful and optimistic things will get better."

But now Boston is poised to miss the playoffs for just the second time since 1967, and Bourque no longer has the luxury of looking toward the future.

"You have to see it as a nice thing for him to do," Bruins forward Jason Allison said. "Hopefully, he'll get a chance to do something that everybody who plays the game wants to do. He's certainly earned it more than anybody."

Bourque's 395 career regular-season goals place him first among defensemen in NHL history. He is second to Paul Coffey in career assists for a defenseman with 1,111.

Overall, he is ninth in scoring with 1,506 points and fifth in games played, with 1,518. In a list compiled by a panel of experts for The Associated Press, Bourque was ranked the 10th best hockey player of the 20th century.

"The fact that we brought in one of the greatest defensemen of all time, and at the same time one of the greatest snipers of all time in Dave Andreychuk is just a great, great thing for our hockey club. We're thrilled," Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said at a news conference in Denver. "With his presence and charisma, as a person he's going to bring a lot to this team."

Bourque was not at the FleetCenter for Monday night's 5-1 loss to Ottawa, having collected a game puck as a souvenir and saying goodbye to his teammates after Saturday's game against Philadelphia. Andreychuk left the building after he was scratched from the lineup, a signal that he was also part of the deal.

Fans were subdued during the game, yelling "We want Raymond" after the Senators took a 1-0 first-period lead, and mixing the chant with other jeers after Ottawa scored three goals in 100 seconds to go up 4-0 in the third.

But the crowd showed no anger toward Bourque, wishing him well with signs that said, "It won't be the same without No. 77," and "It's a sad day without Ray."

"It's hard not to miss him when you hear the fans cheering for him," Bruins defenseman Hal Gill said.

Bourque is in the last year of his contract, and he has not said whether he wants to be back for another. That means this could be his last chance to have his name on the Cup.

"I think the three of us here," Bruins GM Harry Sinden said, with coach Pat Burns and assistant GM Mike O'Connell at his side, "will be cheering for one team to win the Stanley Cup this year."